Gel imaging system to study cell responses to biomaterials in the nervous system, bone and skin

新型组织工程策略和3D细胞培养系统的发展需要合成越来越复杂的支架。这些功能性生物材料旨在刺激细胞在重现天然组织的3D环境中的存活、增殖、分化和功能。成像技术现在比以往任何时候都更需要在细胞信号传导，基因和特定蛋白质表达方面正确表征这些3D细胞培养系统。M的研究小组- A. Lauzon和N. Faucheux的研究活动集中在新一代生物材料的开发上，这些材料能够更忠实地模拟生理条件，以更好地了解细胞在3D环境中的行为。然而，舍布鲁克大学工程学院目前的基础设施（所需设备的过时版本）无法再使用，迫切需要更换。所要求的凝胶成像系统将在急性工程生物材料和复杂流体系统中的细胞-细胞相互作用，细胞分化以及细胞-支架相互作用的表征中发挥关键作用，重点是骨骼，神经系统和皮肤的应用。研究这些相互作用为3D细胞培养模型的功能性和准确性提供了有价值的见解。凝胶成像系统通过不同的成像模式以高分辨率分析核酸和蛋白质表达的能力，以及与传统工作流程相比大幅减少的操作时间，将推动具有强大治疗潜力的新材料的开发。该设备的购置不仅对实现申请人的研究目标至关重要，而且还将大大加强已经用于核酸和蛋白质分析的基础设施，取代过时的设备，并为舍布鲁克大学的几个研究项目做出贡献。所要求的凝胶成像系统将用于培养几名多功能高素质人员，他们将受益于动态，丰富和包容的培训环境。他们还将有机会通过获得基础知识和应用知识来发展独特的专业知识。此外，他们将通过持续的合作获得生物技术工程和细胞生物学方面的大量集体和多样化知识以及最先进的设备和设施。由于3D细胞培养的重要性，在药物发现，组织工程和再生医学领域的体外模型的发展，这种多价的知识和适销对路的技能将是有吸引力的加拿大生物医学和制药行业。

The development of novel tissue engineering strategies and 3D cell culture systems require the synthesis of increasingly more complex scaffolds. Those functional biomaterials aim to stimulate cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and functionality in 3D environment recapitulating the native tissue. Imaging technologies are now more than ever required to properly characterize those 3D cell culture systems in terms of cell signaling, gene and specific protein expression. Research groups of M.-A. Lauzon and N. Faucheux focus their research activities on the development of the new generation of biomaterials that mimic more faithfully physiological conditions to understand better cell behaviors in 3D environment. Yet, the current infrastructure (obsolete version of the requested equipement) at the Faculty of Engineering of Université de Sherbrooke cannot be used anymore and urgently needs replacement. The requested Gel Imaging system will play a key role in the characterization of cell-cell interactions, cell differentiation as well as cell-scaffold interactions in acute engineered biomaterials and complex fluidic systems focusing on applications in bone, nervous systems, and skin. Studying those interactions provides valuable insights on the functionnality and accuracy of 3D cell culture models. The capacity of the Gel Imaging System to analyze nucleic acids and proteins expression through different imaging modes with high resolution as well as a substantial reduction in manipulation time as compared with the traditional workflow, will propel the development of new materials with strong therapeutic potential. The acquisition of this equipment is not only paramount to achieve the research objectives of the applicants, but will also reinforce greatly the infrastructure already in place for nucleic acids and proteins analyses, replace an obsolete equipment and contribute to several research programs at Université de Sherbrooke. The requested Gel Imaging System will be used in the formation of several polyvalent highly qualified personnel, who will benefit from a dynamic, rich and inclusive training environment. They will also have the opportunity to develop a unique expertise by acquiring both fundamental and applied knowledge. Moreover, they will have access to a great collective and diversified knowledge in biotechnological engineering and cellular biology as well as state of the art equipment and facilities through ongoing collaborations. As the importance of 3D cell culture arises for the development of more realistic in vitro models in the domain of drug discovery, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, such polyvalent knowledge and marketable skills will be attractive for Canadian biomedical and pharmaceutical industries.